As the line-ups came out, most of us were at a loss as to why Nenad Milijas was dropped for David Jones. Maybe due to the latter's tenacity and graft being a reason for that decision but there should be no qualms about Michael Mancienne replacing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake as we were playing away from home. Blackpool took the lead in the third minute when Kevin Foley uncharacteristically got outsmarted by Luke Varney in our right-back position rasped a 30-yard volley into top corner past Marcus Hahnemann, who had no chance in hell of getting anywhere near the ball. Midway through the first half, we made a tactical substitution with Foley coming off for Milijas to put introduce some inagination into the midfield. But that wasn't working straight away and minutes before half-time the hosts doubled their lead. David Vaughan swung in a corner which Hahnemann couldn't get to due Varney holding him down and getting a touch for Marlon Harewood bundle in over the line. Although Mark Clattenburg should've given us a free-kick, Richard Stearman should not have given Harewood that much space to move. Wolves heckled off at half-time and rightfully so.
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| Luke Varney: A handful man in more ways than one gets his shot away. |
Second half, Stephen Hunt made way for Ebanks-Blake and Milijas' influence was immediately evident when he won the ball in the middle of the park and struck a low shot which was tipped onto the post by Richard Kingson. Shortly after we had two penalty appeals within a minute, both turned down by Clattenburg who seems to take a dislike to us in recent games. But we battled on and battered them Tangerines and tested Kingson through Matt Jarvis and Ebanks-Blake but there was no way past the Ghanian international until the late stages of the game. With five minutes of normal time left, George Elokobi's cross was met by Kevin Doyle at the far post for his first Premiership goal this season but it was all too late. The goal was only scored because Ian Evatt - who had a really good game marking Doyle throughout - had to neglect his duty and walk an injury off on the touchline. Once again, a good second half performance, no points to show for it, nasty habit.
Mick McCarthy said before the game that this could well be definitive and he could be right, but we've been in this position before this time last year and got out with back-to-back victories. But it's Sunderland next and in their recent form, who would fancy dodging them?
'Grobs'
LINE-UPS
BLACKPOOL (4-3-3): Kingson, Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey (Carney 89), Vaughan, Adam, Phillips (Taylor-Fletcher 65), Campbell, Varney, Harewood (Sylvestre 65). Unused Subs: Halstead, Ormerod, Grandin, Edwards.
WOLVES (4-5-1): Hahnemann, Foley (Milijas 29), Stearman, Berra, Elokobi, Henry (Fletcher 60), Mancienne, David Jones, Jarvis, Doyle, Hunt (Ebanks-Blake 46). Unused Subs: Hennessey, Ward, Bent, Mouyokolo. Booked: Henry, Berra
STATS (courtesy of Daily Telegraph)
SHOTS ON TARGET (OFF TARGET): Blackpool 4 (5) - 9 (9) Wolves
CORNERS: Blackpool 4 - 11 Wolves
POSSESSION: Blackpool 44% - 56% Wolves
REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg
